Intern (Economic Development Data Analyst)

About the Company

Fourth Economy is a national consulting firm that partners with communities, organizations, and regions to shape more resilient, inclusive, and thriving futures. Established in Pittsburgh in 2010, the firm emphasizes true collaboration and builds each project through a mix of research, analytics, strategy, planning, and community engagement so the final recommendations reflect the people they affect.

The team works across business districts, housing, community health, cultural and outdoor economies, equitable development, emerging industries, organizational strategy, environment and climate, and quality of life and place. Across these areas, the firm helps clients solve complex challenges with practical, creative, equity-centered solutions informed by community input.

In 2021, Fourth Economy became part of Steer, a global consultancy focused on transportation, infrastructure, and urban development. Together, the organizations combine people-centered problem solving with global expertise to deliver measurable outcomes that support stronger economies, improved quality of life, and broader opportunity.

Role Overview

The Economic Development Analyst Internship is intended for graduate students and recent graduates with academic or practical exposure to applied economics, data analytics, statistics, public policy, business, planning, or project management.

Interns will support analytics staff by gathering, cleaning, and interpreting economic and demographic information for client projects. The role comes with a defined project plan, but success in the position depends on initiative, independent thinking, and strong problem-solving ability.

Alongside research and analysis, interns may also contribute to community engagement work in the Pittsburgh region, including stakeholder meetings, public engagement sessions, workshops, and events. This creates an opportunity to connect data work with real-world planning and decision-making.

The internship focuses on areas such as economic development strategies and action plans, market and industry forecasting, business district development, outdoor and cultural economy planning, economic impact analysis, housing analysis, workforce and future-of-jobs analysis, equitable development, resilience planning, and community health and family support assessments.

Schedule and Location

The internship is expected to start in August or September 2026, with some flexibility on the exact start date. The schedule is part-time at about 15 to 20 hours per week, usually in 4- to 5-hour shifts during standard business hours from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. Scheduling can be arranged across different days of the week, but work generally needs to fall within those hours for collaboration with supervisors, project teams, clients, and community partners.

The role is based in Pittsburgh, PA, and includes a blend of remote and in-person work. Interns will also meet regularly with a supervisor in Pittsburgh and may occasionally attend in-person meetings, engagement activities, and events.

Why This Internship Matters

This opportunity gives interns the chance to apply analytical skills to community, organizational, and regional challenges across the country. Interns work with experienced consultants on projects that touch economic development, housing, workforce systems, public health, quality of life, and organizational strategy.

The role is designed to show how research and data can support community engagement, strategic planning, and informed decision-making. Through mentorship, project work, and cross-team collaboration, interns can strengthen technical skills while gaining a deeper understanding of how data contributes to meaningful change.

Strong performers may have the option to extend the internship or be considered for future full-time roles.

Responsibilities

• Support multiple client projects by helping collect, clean, and analyze economic and demographic data from different sources.
• Translate technical analysis into clear, concise, and credible content for client-facing deliverables.
• Explore new datasets and help the team identify useful data sources for both existing and emerging topics.
• Conduct research related to community development and economic development topics.
• Participate in client engagement activities such as build sessions, interviews, and stakeholder meetings when needed.
• Contribute ideas during team meetings and one-on-one interactions.
• Provide support for proposals, shadow scoping calls, and take part in internal learning and business development activities.
• Participate in coffee chats and other opportunities to learn about the work approaches of Fourth Economy and Steer staff.

Requirements

• Graduate student or recent graduate with interest or background in applied economics, data analytics, statistics, public policy, business, planning, or project management.
• Comfort using data tools such as Excel, R, Python, GIS, Tableau, Power BI, or similar platforms; expertise in every tool is not required.
• Familiarity with public datasets such as the U.S. Census Bureau, BLS, BEA, CDC, HUD, or other community development and demographic sources.
• Understanding of core concepts in economics, statistics, public policy, planning, geography, business, or related disciplines.
• Ability to organize information, identify patterns, and draw insights from both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for reports, presentations, and client materials.
• Interest in economic development, community development, housing, workforce development, equitable development, organizational strategy, public health, or related subject areas.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and collaborate effectively with others.
• Experience with APIs is a plus.
• Data visualization and storytelling experience is a plus, especially for maps, dashboards, infographics, or other visual outputs.

Application and Interview Process

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in July 2026. Candidates who advance can expect to hear back starting in mid-July, with interviews continuing through July and August until the role is filled.

Applicants should submit a resume or CV, a cover letter explaining their interest in the role and the firm, and a sample of work such as a research paper, article, memo, report, dashboard, map, presentation, or similar product. The work sample should be something the applicant is proud of and should reflect analytical, research, communication, or design skills. Applicants should be the primary author; if the piece was collaborative, they should clearly identify their specific contributions.

The hiring process is structured and stage-based. It begins with a 30-minute initial interview by Zoom with the hiring manager and direct supervisor. The second stage is a 30- to 45-minute team interview and scenario discussion, held by Zoom or in person. Finalists then have a 30-minute final conversation, by Zoom or in person, with firm leadership to discuss expectations, fit, goals, and potential start dates. Not every applicant will move through each stage.

Compensation

The internship pays $25 per hour.

Successful interns may be able to continue across multiple academic semesters depending on performance, workload, and organizational needs. High-performing interns may also be considered for future full-time opportunities.